1. 69.97 (36.97+33.18) Yuna Kim, South
Korea, dominated the opening round in the Ladies World
championship. She won the Short Program by a significant 3.11
points over the defending champion, Carolina Kostner of Italy.
It was no where near the Short Program score she had posted in
Vancouver in February, 2010, but it was certainly more than
enough to reprimand the many who had doubted that the Olympic
champion, who is still only 22, can pull off her goal.

Experts cite the fact that there is far less pressure on
those who stick to exhibitions and do not compete. Honing
competition skills is a very important
in today’s high pressure world. Even Kim admitted she had
doubts.

“I was worried because
it has been a long time since I competed at the World
Championships, but at the same time I was confident. I have done
many competitions (in my career). I could do what I had to do. I
did all my jumps. I checked the levels and I got some lower
level on some elements than expected, but I think it was ok.

“I’ll try my best in
the free skating, of course, and I’ll try to be not too nervous
about the long program. I did a clean long program at Korean
Nationals, so I know I can do it. My first goal is to get more
than one ticket for the Olympic Games for Korea. Beside myself,
I would like young Korean skaters to experience the Olympic
Games. In Vancouver, I had a teammate and that was great. I’d
like to repeat that. I have been skating for many years. I love
figure skating, and that’s why I’ve returned.”

Because she had not
been competing and had a low ISU current ranking, she drew to
skate early in the event, 14th of the 35 competitors.
She performed to “Kiss of the Vampire”. My choreographer
suggested this piece. He said it hadn’t been used by female
skaters. I didn’t want to skate to something overused. I’m known
for my unique routines, like the Bond Girl, I did for the
Olympic season.

Kim, dressed in a
sleeveless light blue and silver outfit, with her dark hair
pulled back into a neat bun, began her routine with a
sensationally high, light, easy-flowing combination triple Lutz
to triple toe loop, which had amazed fans who turned up for the
previous day’s practice sessions was awarded straight +2 GoEs by
the nine-member judging panel. But then her triple flip was
given an “e” call for wrong edge take-off by the Technical
Panel, and she lost -0.20 off its base value.

Her flying camel spin
was “only” Level 3 (possibly because she didn’t hold her final
position for enough revolutions) but it received a collective
extra +0.43 from the judges. Her double Axel, set at the point
when the 10% bonus clicks in, was so good, one judge punched in
+3 and five gave +2. (The other three gave +1.) Her layback was
lovely, but again, earned only Level 3. However, her step and
the final spin, a change foot combination, were awarded Level 4
with, respectively, +1.10 and +0.86 extra. Her components ranged
from a low of two 7.75s up to one 9.0.

She thought the marks
might have been higher. “When I heard the score, I was a little
bit surprised and thought maybe I had got a downgrade of the
spins (3 instead of the hoped for Level 4). The first spin was a
little unstable (at the end). She had a long wait to see how her
main rivals performed.

When she first took
the ice for her warm-up, she was not smiling. “I was not as
nervous as I had imagined I would be. I did my best, a full
100%. I trained four or five years in Canada and won the
Olympics in Canada. It feels great to be back here. I’m very
comfortable. When I first got here, I was a little worried
because it has been a long time since I competed in such a big
venue with lots of people, but I focused on the practice
sessions and knew I was doing well.”

2.6.86 (34.01+33.85 -1)
Carolina Kostner,
the Italian defending world champion, skated 34th, next to last,
in a lilac and green creation. By chance, she used music, “A
Transylvanian Lullaby”
from “Young Frankenstein,” with a similar
dark theme to that Kim had chosen. Kostner, a 26-year-old, who
has competed in this event every year since 2003, when she
finished 10th, with up-and-down success, said,“I
am a little bit angry with myself. I fell on the (second jump of
the combination of two triple toe loop jumps) which upset me a
little bit. I cannot say what happened there. The routine goes
by so fast. Otherwise I had a wonderful skate and I felt so
welcomed by the audience here.”

She had opened with a
triple loop, which one judge had rewarded by punching in a +3.
Six other judges thought the jump was worth +2. Her double Axel
also gained one +3. Her first two spins were Level 4 and were
her steps. She concluded with a +0.57, Level 3 layback spin. Her
component marks ranged from two 7.75s up to six 9.0s.

She explained, “I
just love skating so much. This is the reason why I continued.
I'd miss it otherwise! But after 10 years on the senior circuit,
I needed some time off earlier this season to be a normal
25-year old, having time for family and friends, waking up and
staying in my pajamas. So I did not do the Grand Prix Circuit. I
came back with new energy.

“I am quite nervous in
competition anyway, so coming in as world champion did not make
a difference. I don't think about getting my second title here
at all. Because of my success, this is the first time that we
have been allowed three entries for the girls competing at
worlds. We have to enjoy that. Our Association has been working
towards that goal. And, we have to try to get more than one spot
for the Sochi Olympics.”

3. (36.87+29.77) Kanako Murakami
from Japan, an 18-year-old who was fifth in this event last
year, after being 8th in her debut in 2011, won
bronze this year’s Four Continents Championships. Skating 30th
to “Prayer for Taylor”, by Michael W. Smith, she began her
routine in an unusual manner executing her Level 4 steps and her
double Axel first. Usually, skaters like to get their leading
difficulties out of way so they can then relax and “sell” the
program.

However, Murakami’s
approach paid dividends. Both her combination of two triple toes
(which is less difficult than the combo chosen by her leading
rivals) and her triple flip received the 10% bonus. All three of
her spins were the maximum Level 4. She ended up with the top
element score (although that was only a tiny 0.08 ahead of Kim,
it was 2.86 ahead of a Kostner.

She explained she had
no nerves. “I wanted to be very calm like at Four Continents and
I was.” Her routine earned the description as “delicately
elegant yet impassioned.”

4. 64.73 (35.19+29.54)
Kaetlyn Osmond, the
new Canadian 17-year old national champion, who trains in the
West Edmonton Mall, skated a wonderfully “saucy mambo”, ninth on
the ice and really warmed up the delighted home crowd. She
didn’t put a toe out of place, opening with a +1.20 combination
of two triple toe loops and a +1.40 triple flip. Her steps and
two of her three spins were the maximum Level 4. The flying sit
spin was Level 3. Her components reflected her youth rather than
the audience appeal. She was the third best on the element score
but only 7th on the components.

She really produced
for the crowd and they let her know they appreciated efforts
with a very noisy response. She and they were delighted with her
placing. She said, “It was amazing.
I was a little nervous but once I landed my first jump,
it felt perfect. What a
great crowd! This
program is so much fun to skate.
I feel like part of the crowd.
It felt great. The crowd is unbelievable.
The program was clean. I am comfortable with all my jumps
in the short. The crowd
was so amazing, so supportive and so loud - I could barely hear
my music. I hope the
long goes just as well.”

Until the Nebelhorn
Trophy in Germany last year, she was relatively unknown
internationally, although she had entered the world junior
championship. She pulled off a stunning surprise victory in
Germany and then, in a
shock decision, dominated the Skate Canada event. Those who know
her, say her leading asset is that she is fearless – throwing
herself into jumps. As Canada’s only Ladies entrant, she could
have caved into nerves but her coach, Ravi Walia, says she’s a
natural born entertainer and always rises to the occasion.
Because this event is used to decide the initial allocation of
berths to the Olympics, it is very important for her to make the
top ten to qualify the country for a second entry for Sochi.

5. 33.06 (33.06+30.92)
Ashley Wagner, 21,
the twice American and 2012 Four Continents Champion, skated 31st,
presenting an extremely gracefully routine set to “Red Violin”
by John Corigliano, immediately following Murakami’s great
showing. She opened with a triple flip to double toe loop landed
with both arms over her head. Then came her Level 4 layback spin
which was so good, one judge gave +3 GoE. After her Level 3
change foot combination spin, she presented a +0.90 triple loop
followed by a +0.50 double Axel. Her straight line steps were
Level 4 and her concluding flying sit spin Level 3. Her
components ranged from one 8.50 down to two 7.00s.

She said, “I had a
clean skate, and I definitely had a safe skate.
I am happy with what I put out there today.
I decided to play it safe and do the double instead of
triple-triple. The key
to moving forward in the long program will be including the
double axel- triple toe.”

She is aware that to
have three American women compete in the Olympic Games, “Gracie
and I will have to put out two solid programs to be able to
achieve that.

I stayed really calm today. I wanted to do that triple-triple
combination but I decided to play it safe. I think I put myself
in a good position going into the long program. Everyone is
really close together. I’m in fighting distance. Mr. (John)
Nicks told me, if it doesn’t feel right, don’t risk it. I would
rather play it safe than sorry.

“The
landing on the flip wasn’t exactly how I wanted it. At an event
this huge and this important, my focus is to get the three spots
back and I figured playing it safe with a triple-double of
quality was the better way to go. You’ll see it this week. I
have the double Axel-triple toe planned and that’s something
that I’m much more comfortable with. The flip-toe is relatively
new. It’s been so perfect in practice and even on the warm up it
was there. But, I’m not used to doing it under pressure yet.

“I feel like I’m the problem child of every competition and I’m not
that kind of person! To show up to a competition, especially
worlds, without my skates, that was definitely something I
wasn’t prepared for. They got here, ans everything’s all fine.
It made me stop and realize that I need to calm down. I had that
mishap and realized, it’s just figure skating, and they are just
skates. I need to relax and stay sane in order to do my job.

“Three spots, three spots, three spots. We’re going to do whatever it
takes to get there. The Axel-toe has to be in that program and
I’m fully aware of that. There are so many talented girls here
and it needs to be strong and solid. I would like to build upon
my last two competitions. And lucky for me, I have made that
pretty easy for myself. We’ll see how it goes.

“The U.S. ladies team here is here to get that third spot back. It’s
almost a personal agenda. I was the person most directly
affected last Olympics and I want that third spot back. We’ve
been trying for too long to get it back.”

6. 62.12 (29.70+32.40)Mao Asada, the Japanese who took Kim’s world title from her
at the 2010 world championships, is the current Four Continents
and Grand Prix Final Champion. The 22-year-old, who skated 33rd,
interpreted George Gershwin’s famous “I Got Rhythm”. She opened
with a triple Axel which earned 8.64 points. That was followed
by a triple flip to double loop but the flip got an arrow for
slight under-rotation.

Next up were two Level 3 spins, a layback and a flying camel. But then she singled her
triple loop. The following change foot combination spin and the
steps were both Level 4.

She said, “I wanted to
skate the short program today like I did at Four Continents, but
the jumps weren’t as good. I am little sad. On my last jump I
had a problem with the take-off.

7. 61.17 (30.71+30.46) Akiko Suzuki,
the Japanese 27-year-old, who was last year’s bronze medalist,
skated 24th, performing to “Kill Bill” and “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.”
She opened with her combination of two triple toe loops but the
second jump was given an arrow for under-rotation. However, all
her other elements gained positive Grades of Execution,
including the triple flip and double Axel. Twon of the spins
were Level 3. The concluding change foot combination was Level 4
as were the steps.

She explained, “I stepped out of my
combination so this was not perfect enough to be absolutely
happy. But the first jump of the combo was so good. I put so
much energy into it, maybe this is why the mistake on the second
jump happened. I’ve been very happy since I came here. I enjoy
the atmosphere here in Canada and, overall, I am happy with what
I could show today.”

8. 59.62 (30.97+28.65) Adelina Sotnikova, RUS,
the 2013 European medalist, skated 26thto “Capriccio Espagnol” by Rimski-Korsakov.
The 16-year-old opened her routine with a combination of two triple
toe loops but got an arrow on the second jump. Her triple flip
earned an extra +0.30 and the double Axel was awarded an extra
+0.86 over its base value. Two of her spins and the steps were
Level 4, but her layback was only Level 2.

She said, “It’s my
first Worlds and I felt really calm. To be honest, I didn’t
quite understand what was going on and that I am at Worlds. I
don’t really get my skate, but I think it was quite okay. I
under-rotated the second triple toe in the combination and I
didn’t hold the last spin long enough, but overall for my first
worlds it is fine. I came here earlier to a training camp a
little earlier and I trained on the smaller ice surface. The
smaller size doesn’t bother me, you have always to adapt.”

9. 58.84 (30.23+28.62) Gracie Gold,
the 17-year-old American national silver medalist making her
debut in this event, skated 21st to Hernando’s
Hideaway. The second jump on her combination of two triple toe
loops received an arrow and the triple flip got an “e” for wrong
edge take-off. However, her double Axel received +0.50 over its
base value. Her flying camel spin was only Level 2 with 0.34
removed from its base value , but the other two spins were the
maximum Level 4 with +1.0 for her lovely layback and +0.57 for
the change foot combination. Her components ranged from a low of
one 6.25 up to four 7.75s.

Gold, who has had an
incredibly exciting season, taking part in the Junior Grand Prix
Final in the Olympic site and now here Worlds, trains in the
Chicago area. She said, “I feel I had a safe skate and a steady
skate. There was a
problem with a spin switch. I came to prove myself. The fact
that I can land elements well says a lot about me as a
competitor. The crowd is
so supportive, even if you have a rough element they still
support you. My goal for
worlds is to skate to good programs and skate like I have
trained. I have been
practicing my long program very well and I want to stay in the
moment and enjoy it. I really love skating.”

About her first Worlds performance, she said, “I
was a bit nervous going into it. I haven’t had the best short
programs. Everyone was really supportive. Everyone who is part
of Team USA has been really supportive this week. So far, I
think it’s going really well.”

Regarding her flying camel spin, which was only Level 2, she explained,
“I’m supposed to pull it up for an edge change. I think I got a
little bit excited and as I was pulling it up, I went for the
edge change immediately. I wasn’t able to get either of those
features. Simple mistakes today. Easy things that I think I can
fix with time and more competitions. Nerves are part of
competitive sports. They do tend to help you - it’s the
adrenaline building when you’re going out to perform or compete
in whatever your sport may be. I know that every skater gets
nervous. I’m young so I haven’t had the same time to cope with
the nerves as some of the other competitors, but I think every
time it’s getting a little better. Short programs have been
getting better.

“I’m excited about it. It can be a little intimidating. In the locker
room, they are just people. But when the get on the ice and you
see the banners and hear the crowd cheer for them, it’s like,
‘Oh my gosh, I’m watching the Olympic champion, World champions,
people who have so many achievements.’ It’s exciting.

“I need to learn how to trust myself. My junior season I was really
good at that. There’s so much less pressure and media
excitement. I’m learning how to take what I do in practice and
put it out during competition. I want to show the judges that I
do deserve to be here and at the top competitions with the other
skaters in the world. I want to show what kind of skater and
competitor I am. I plan to keep on improving.”

10. 58.36 (30.73+27.63) Viktoria Helgesson, the 24-year-old from Sweden, finished
one place higher than last year.
She said, “I felt really good about my program.
I was disappointed I could not do my triple-triple in
this program. (She did triple toe loop to double toe loop.) It
was going so good in practice.
Prior to worlds I went to Boston to prepare for this
event. I was feeling confident coming into worlds.
The crowd has been so supportive of the skaters.”

11. 56.90 (30.75+26.15)
Mae Berenice Meite,
the 18-year-old second ranked French skater, skated 32nd. She
said, “I felt pretty good today, and I think this was a rather good short
program. I managed to save all the jumps. It was better than at
Europeans. I have to keep on working on my second mark, but to
be surrounded by all these great skaters feels really good and
motivates me a lot. The competition is not over yet, so I have
to stay concentrated and keep my focus for the free skate.”

12. 56.31 (30.76+26.55 -1) Zijun Li, 16,
is the Chinese Champion who finished fifth in the recent Four
Continents’ Championships. She said, “In that event, I did only
a triple-double combination. Here, I went for the triple-triple
and even though I missed it at least I showed a higher level.
Overall it wasn’t bad. This was just the first day and hopefully
I can skate better in the free skating.” Re her fall on the
combination of jumps, she said, “I rushed it. The ice surface
here (hockey size) is smaller, so it might have affected my set
up.”

13. 56.30 (26.47+29.83) Alena Leonova, from Moscow,
last year’s runner-up, skated 35th
and last to music from the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire.
She said, “I am very happy actually with the way I skated,
especially with the emotions I showed. I was dancing and I
didn’t even want the program to end.” Re her combination of two
triple toe loops in which the second jump received a double
arrow for a down grade, she said, “I’m not going to cry over it
now. I did it in the warm up. I trained well and I gave a 100
percent in practice. I knew it would be difficult here as there
are so many girls contending for the podium. It is different
than last year. I really want to do the first combination as I
missed it today.”

14. 54.72 (27.97+27.75 -1) Elizaveta Tuktamysheva,
who is 16 and the 2013 European bronze medalist, skated 28th
to Aston Piazzolla’s famed Tango “Adios Nonino”. Although
she opened with a +1.0 triple Lutz to triple toe loop, she got
no points at all for two of her seven required elements. She
said, “I actually felt confident going into this competition. I
don’t know what happened on that spin which was supposed to be
the flying sit spin. The ice is good here, my blade just slipped
away. And then on the (intended double) Axel, my toe pick
touched the ice before the takeoff, which was why I couldn’t do
it anymore. The most important now in the free skate is that I
can do all of my elements, including the Axel of course.”

15. 54.59 (29.47+25.12) Elena Glebova, the 23-year-old
Estonian champion, who was 13th
in this event last year, said, “I stepped on ice knowing it was
the last time I would skate this short program. It was a
Season’s Best for me. I really enjoyed it. The
Canadians are incredible. they were applauding all the way
through. There’s no element I could have done better.
I hope to do as well as I can in the long.
Last week, I skated three clean longs last week in
practice so I know that it is in me.
I just have to go jump by jump, spin by spin.”

16. 52.44 (28.79+23.65) Sonia Lafuente , the
21-year-old Spanish champion, said, “I felt good today, even
though I was nervous before my skate. I was not used to the
(small) size of the rink and it felt weird to do the loop almost
right into the boards at practice. But then I had a good start
to my program and got more and more confident during the program
as things were running good. I came to Toronto to train with
Javier (Fernandez) the week before the competition already to
get used to the time difference and had a great time there and a
good practice.”

18. 51.23 (26.61+24.62) Jenna
McCorkell, 26, is the ten time British champion. She said,
“It was a good skate even if it was not my best. I lost a few
points on the GoEs, but I am happy that I could show a good
performance after Europeans were really bad. But, after being
injured in December, I was in a good shape after Europeans and I
came here fully fit. I came to Boston with Viktoria Helgesson
for three days and practiced with Ross Miner. It is always good
to train with a concurrent before a competition and even more
since we are best friends with Viktoria

29. Elena Gedevanishvili,
23, is the most well-known of the skaters not making the top 24
who progress to the Free Skate. She is who now trains with Brian
Orser in Canada, but still represents the country of her birth,
Georgia. She was tenth in this event in 2009, 2010 & 2011. But
this time she couldn’t put a foot right and was 29th.
The twice European Championship bronze medalist said, “I
don’t know what happened. I just didn’t feel my legs. I tried to
get it together, but it just didn’t work. Everything still
worked during warm-up.”